There are few people in our community and the surrounding ones, that are not deeply saddened at the loss of Jonathon Saviano. The tendrils of grief have reached into every nook and cranny, touching the hearts of so many of us that know this family and the several others entwined with them. These are families that have been in this valley for many decades and helped to build our little towns.

I remember when Jonathon was born.

One of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen, with those chubby, Saviano cheeks and curly hair. Never once did I see him without a grin that would melt your heart every time. He went to school with my grand-daughter, and I often told her that one day, I wanted her to marry him, because he was so adorable and sweet. He stayed that way, all of his short life.

What is there I can say to Joe and Lee Ann, to Joey and Katherine and Shaun? What words could possibly bring the comfort they need at this moment? ARE there any words? "I'm sorry" is hardly enough. So I will cry for them, and pray for them, and I will do anything I can to help them in any way I can, but nothing will ever be enough to heal a wound so deep. Only God can do that.

Please pray with me for this family, as a community. We are forever changed.

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Sadly, New Lebanon is forever changed in many ways. 2018 brought some good things to town, like the new Stewarts Shop, the renovation of the old schoolhouse on Rt. 20 that is on it's way to becoming a unique, micro-brewery. The park has come a long way with much-needed repairs being completed, and we did get our flags. Unfortunately, we can't get anyone to take them down for the Winter, and a good number of them were stolen.

We'll do better in 2019. Flags will be a little smaller and less susceptible to damage from wind and passing trailer trucks. Our flower boxes survived well, and the Bicentennial activities were enjoyed by many. All of our small businesses seem to be doing well also, and now we have the old Stewarts building that may attract another entrepreneur in the Spring.

Problems we still face are the overly rigid zoning, the outdated Comprehensive plan, too many grants and environmental programs, lack of interest in preserving who we once were as a town, and the lack of respect for our country and Constitution. The division between the locals and the transplants continues, but it no longer matters. It's too late to fight it , we have lost our town to Liberals whose ideas and agendas have nothing in common with the Conservative, Country folk. A few people in local government are complicit in this, as is the County. We no longer have a Republican Party in New Lebanon, and despite many of the officials here being friends of mine, I can never vote for them again as long as they remain members of the Democrat Party. Not after what I witnessed from Democrats in 2018.

It's time for me and mine to move on to a new state, where the people are still simple, country folk who respect the flag, pray to our God, avoid excessive government entanglement, and take the time to research the "news" and get to the truth. People who are grateful for their freedom and those who fought and died for it, and are willing to stand for Constitutional Liberties. NY is over-taxed, over-regulated, and the most corrupt, least free, and most Godless state in America. It has become a frighteningly EVIL place.

So we are home shopping, and working hard to finish up any repairs that need to be done on the cabin so we can list it For Sale this year. It will be a very, very busy year. Still, I will never give up fighting the infringements of Andrew Cuomo until the very day I drive away from NY for the last time. Which means it will be even MORE busy for ME.

Changes and choices are never easy, but God lays out the plan for us, and we have a duty to follow that plan. The New Year is days away, and there will be a lot to talk about as the state and federal government returns to the dangerous hands of the Left. We can make resolutions, but predictions, not so much. We make plans, God laughs.